SME badge

The SME function helps you find products with at least one available offer from a supplier classified by Unite as a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).

How to use the SME filter and view the SME badge

Apply the SME filter on the search results page to view products with at least one available SME supplier offer.

A product can have multiple supplier offers, including from SME suppliers and from non-SME suppliers.

On the product detail page, you will see the SME badge on offers where the supplier has been identified as an SME.

How Unite defines SME status

Unite assesses SME status using the principles of the European Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including its Annex.

Under this definition, an enterprise is generally considered an SME if it:

• employs fewer than 250 people; and

• has either an annual turnover of no more than EUR 50 million or an annual balance sheet total of no more than EUR 43 million.

For UK suppliers, financial information reported in GBP is assessed against the applicable SME criteria.

The assessment considers the relevant accounting period and, where reliable information is available, applicable rules on ownership and company relationships.

SME status does not mean or guarantee that:

• the product, brand or manufacturer is an SME;

• every offer for a product is from an SME supplier;

• the supplier has a particular level of quality, service or performance;

• the supplier is more sustainable or socially responsible than another supplier;

• the supplier meets a particular legal, regulatory or customer-specific procurement requirement; or

• selecting an SME offer fulfils an SME target or quota.

Data collection

Unite’s data partner, Dun & Bradstreet, determines and verifies an offer’s SME status, including group affiliation. If this information is not available, Unite calculates the data based on the EU definition as described above.